Yarn-plaiting-tensioning means for knitting machines



March 6, 1928. 1,662,046

, J. MAIR YARN PLAITING TENSIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 13, 1927 Inven 02 MmGKSMO/ZF,

. I mount one or preferably a series of yarn Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATEN ori ice.

JAM S HAIR, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AsSIeNonTo HENPHILL oomrANY, or oENTnAL F LLS, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

YARN-PLAITING-IENSIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed January 13, 1927. Serial No. 160,860.

This invention relates to means for imparting tension .to a yarn or thread in knitting machinesgand particularly to means for imparting tension or greater tension to one of the two or more yarns which are fed in Fig'. 1 is a side elevation of the latch ring of a circular knitting machine having my invention applied thereto; I Fig. 2 is an inside view in vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. An important purpose of my invent-ion is the'provision of means for applying tension or increased tension to a yarn or thread close to the knitting point or close to the point of engagement of the yarn or thread with the needles in a knitting organization. While the invention may be used;in other relations, it'is of particular importance when used in plaiting, and I will describe the invention with particular reference to that use without, however, in all the claims limiting it thereto. I will for purposes of description merely disclose the same as used in a circular knitting machine of the latch needle type, although it is to be clearly understood that it may be used in other types of knitting machines particularly of the independent needle type, and that it may be used with eitherspring beard needles, latch needles, or needles of any other type, as for example sliding latch needles.

Referring to that embodiment of the invention herein shown, I have at 1, in the several figures, indicated a latch ring of a circular knitting machine, it being understood that if the invention is-applied to a spring. beard needle machine, a partial ring or member adapted to that type of machine will be used instead. Upon said latch ring guides or' fingers, and for thatpurpose I have herein represented a series 2 of yarn guides pivoted side by side at 3 ma manner well understood in the 'art, as, for example, in the Banner knitting machines. I have shown said latch ring 1 as provided with a throat 4 down into which the proper yarn guide or finger is swung when the yarn or .yarns pertaining thereto is or are to'be brought into action. The several yarn fingers may be used to introduce yarns or threads as desired, as, for example, in knitting hosiery wherein one yarn will be fed for the cotton or lisle top, a silk yarn for the bootpprtion of the stocking, a differentyarn for the heel and toe, and a reinforcing yarn for the hi h Splice, the heel, the-Sole of the foot, and t 1e toe.

At 5, I have indicated one of the yarn guides or fingers to which my invention particularly relates. It is particularly adapted to be used in plaiting and for that purpose it is provided with means for supplying two yarns to the needle in a plaiting relation, it being understood that more than two yarns may be fed in a plaiting relation if desired.

In feedingv yarns in a 'plaiting relation, it: has heretofore been proposed to impart a greater tension to one of said yarns than to the other, as, for example, to the yarn which 1s the front or face yarn in normal plaiting, as is disclosed in the patent to Robert H. Lawson, No. 1,605,895, dated November 2, 1926. I have discovered that very beneficial results are secured if the tension is applied, to the yarn and particularly if it is applied to one of the plaiting yarns very close to the knitting point or to the point where the yarn issuing from the yarn finger comes in contact with the stems of the needles. So

far as I am aware, it has never been proheretofore been applied at a point moreor I less remote from the knitting point or-from the point where the plaiting yarn comes in contact with the needle stems. While different constructions may be emloyed in order to secure the result aimed at y my invention, I preferably provide the following construction to which my invention is not necessarily restricted, and which I will describe as the preferred embodiment. In the yarn finger 5 I provide a passage 6 for the am 7 which, is the,back yarn in normal Eaiting. At some other oint or part of t c said yarn finger I rovi e means for feeding the other yarn which preferably is the front or face yarn in normal. plaiting. As here shown, I have in advance of and slightly spaced from the yarn pasage 6 provided a post, extension or formation 8 extending upward from the body of the finger and provided with a yarn passage 9', the said yarn finger having a yarn passage 10 preferably vertically aligned with the pa ssage 9. The post 8 is cut away or reduced 1n shape or diameter between the yarn passage 9 and the yarn passage 10, so that the varn 11, as it is fed from the point of supply, passes first through the passage 9, 1s t1en wrapped once or if necessary more than once around a reduced portion of the post, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and then passes through the eye or passage 10, and thence to the needles, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The fact that the yarn 11 is wrapped one or more times around the post 8 results in increased tension to that yarn, and said tension, being imparted at a point which is very close to the knitting point,'is very accurately controlled and is in no wise lost or impaired between the point of application of the tension and the knitting point.

It is not necessary that the yarn finger be of a pivoted type, though this construction is preferred, and the st, extension or formation 8 may he obviously varied in shape without departing from my invention.

Having thus described ,one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

, I claim- 1. In a knitting machine, a member, such as a latch ring, having a throat therein. a yarn guide or finger movably mounted in said throat and having a formation whereby tension may be imparted to the yarn thereof close to the knitting point. 2. In a knitting machine, a member, such as a latch ring, having a throat therein, a yarn guide or finger movably mounted in said throat and having means for supplying two yarns in a plaiting relation, said finger having means for applying tension to one of said yarns close to the knitting point.

3. In a knitting machine, a member, such as a latch ring, having a throat therein, a yarn guide or finger for plaiting movably mounted in said throat and having a passage for one of the yarns, said. guide or finger having means for applying tension to the other of said yarns.

4. In a knitting machine, a yarn guide having an extension around which a yarn or thread can be Wrapped to apply tension thereto at a point close to the knitting point.

5. In a knitting machine, a yarn guide or finger having a passage for one yarn and also having an extension around which an other yarn may be wrapped to apply tension thereto on its way to the needles.

6. In a knitting machine, a yarn guide or finger having distinct passages for two yarns and an extension around which one of said yarns may be wrapped to impart tension thereto.

'Z. In a knitting machine, a yarn guide or finger having a post with two spaced arn passages therein so that yarn or three can be delivered through the first passage, then wrapped about the post to impart tension to the yarn or thread and then pass through the second passage.

8. In a knitting machine, a latch ring or.

the like having a series of yarn fingers adapted to be moved into and out of feeding relation, one of .said yarn fingers having spaced passages therein for the feeding of two yarns in a plaiting relation, said yarn fin er having a post or extension around which one of said yarns may be wrapped to apply tension thereto at substantially the point'of delivery of the yarn to the stems of the needles.

9. In a knitting machine, a pivoted yarn finger having a delivery end adapted to be presented in close proximity to the needles, said finger having spaced means for dehvermg two yarns to the needles in a plaitmg relation but with one of said yarns tensioned more than the other at a point close to its delivery from said yarn finger.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES MAIR. 

